Samantha Abarca

Mr. Davenport

AP Literature and Composition

25 February 2018

Shakespeare’s Use of Motifs in ​Macbeth

William Shakespeare is known for using motifs to develop certain themes throughout his

plays. In the tragedy of ​Macbeth​, Shakespeare uses many motifs. In the play, the phrase “Fair is

foul, and foul is fair,” is repeated frequently to further develop the theme of corruption and

unchecked ambition. This phrase or variations of this phrase appear numerous times in ​Macbeth​.

Although the phrase catches the audience’s attention at the start of the play, it has a more drastic

effect once it begins to relate to the characters’ actions after Macbeth’s encounter with the Weird

Sisters.

The motif is first introduced in the story by the Weird Sisters in Act I, Scene I. In this

scene, the three witches are deciding when they will get together again to meet with Macbeth.

The witches together chant, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air,” at

the end of the scene. Their eerie chant creates an uneasy feeling for the audience and leaves them

wondering why the witches seek Macbeth. The witches are saying things that are pretty will

become ugly while things that look ugly will become beautiful. Although the witches are

referring to themselves, the line later takes on a different meaning.

In Act I Scene 3, the line appears in a different variation by Macbeth who says, “So foul

and fair a day I have not seen.” His line to Banquo means that he hasn’t seen a day that was so

good yet so bad. Upon saying this, Macbeth and Banquo have come face to face with the Weird
Sisters. Macbeth is startled to hear from the witches that he will become thane of Cawdor and

then later the king. The variation of the phrase, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” takes on a new

meaning in this part of the play. Shakespeare employed this motif to highlight what seems to be a

glorious future for Macbeth, but what appears to be a good situation is in reality an evil one.

Unfortunately, Macbeth does not question the predictions of the Weird Sisters after Banquo asks,

“Why do you start to fear things that do sound so fair?”

The phrase “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” as a motif serves to relate to the actions of the

characters in the play after Macbeth’s encounter with the witches. Shakespeare no longer focuses

on stating this line or variations of this line after Act I. Instead, he chooses to emphasize the

change of the characters’ morals throughout the rest of the play. An example of a change in

morals is seen in Lady Macbeth after she receives a letter from Macbeth. After hearing Macbeth

could soon be king, she creates a plan to ensure the witches’ predictions come true. The idea that

Macbeth could be king is a good situation to Lady Macbeth, even if it means committing a

horrible crime. Shakespeare employs the motif to show how the need for power can corrupt a

person, which it has done to Lady Macbeth.

Throughout the play, the motif develops several meanings as the story continues. The

motif, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” begins as a reference to a change in appearance and ends as

a reference to a change in morals. It isn’t until the end of the play where the characters begin to

see the wrong in their actions as a result of their hungry ambition. Shakespeare’s use of the

motif, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” changed the meaning of the phrase depending on the

situation the characters were in. He continued to indirectly employ the motif through changes of
several characters’ morals in the play. If Macbeth had not paid attention the witches, he could’ve

made what appeared to be a bad situation into a good one for his future.